It worked so well for East Germany
Wednesday, June 11th, 2008D.C. police began checking drivers’ IDs last night in a neighborhood that has been plagued by homicide, and although the policy found critics, among them at least one motorist, a police official said it went well.
…
But [Herbert Temoney] was skeptical, stating that stopping motorists at checkpoints may not be an adequate response to the killings.
…
“They’re out here putting tickets on cars of residents when they should be out here walking around getting to know the neighborhood and learning who lives here and who doesn’t,” said Diane Kemp, a 16-year resident of the area who was ticketed a few months ago.
“Now we have checkpoints, one more way of hurting those of us who live here.”
Representatives of several civil and housing rights organizations protested the plan as they gathered in the 1400 block of Montello Avenue NE. Eleanor Johnson, of the D.C. Coalition for Housing Justice, said the police were “creating a police state.”
About 15 demonstrators decried the checkpoints, saying they violate the residents’ rights. “Trinidad, yes; Baghdad, no!” they yelled. “Don’t turn Trinidad into Baghdad!“
If DC is serious about reducing crime, why not start foot patrols? There’s a wealth of information supporting the increased effectiveness of foot patrol as a crime deterrent and effective social policy.